DEAN HUIJSEN is a surprise target for Spanish giants Real Madrid.
The Bournemouth defender has played a significant role in the club’s push to seventh in the Premier League despite being a teenager.
Centre back Huijsen, 19, has started the last six games – scoring in the Cherries’ clean-sheet wins over both Manchester United and Tottenham.
European champions Madrid have been tracking him for some time now and their scouts have been impressed with how quickly he has adapted to the Premier League.
He only signed for Bournemouth last summer in a £16m deal from Italian side Juventus.
The added plus is that even though he was born in Holland, Huijsen has Spanish nationality after moving there when he was five.
Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has been looking for a new defender for a while and that search has intensified with Eder Militao suffering serious injury at the end of last year.
Huijsen has played for Spain Under-21s but is tipped to go all the way to the senior squad and hopes for a call-up soon.
Bournemouth are aware of the interest from the world’s most successful club but it is more likely any move would materialise in the summer, not during this January transfer window.
The player has told pals he wants to focus solely on his efforts for Bournemouth, having thrived under fellow Spaniard and Cherries boss Andoni Iraola.
Real’s interest in Huijsen comes as they pursue Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold.
The England ace could scoop a £100m pay-packet if he switches to the Spanish giants.
Real are willing to part with £20m to land TAA this month.
But it’s reckoned their preferred option could be to recruit the 26-year-old in the summer on a free transfer.
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